Pull out the Bitter Roots

Have you ever been around a bitter person? It doesn’t matter how optimistic or hopeful you are, these people can’t see anything but the negative. Yet if we aren’t careful, we can also become bitter people. The bitterness that we see in others didn’t grow overnight. Instead, the roots were growing within them long before we ever knew it existed.

Bitter roots are watered and fertilized by our unforgiving, discontented, and jealous hearts. The roots start off so small that they are easily overlooked. It could be fleeting thoughts such as “Why does she get to have a husband and I don’t?” or “Why does he get a promotion and not me?” or “Why should I forgive them when they aren’t even sorry?”

Bitterness begins within our hearts when we don’t immediately take our disappointments and hurts to God. It’s our responsibility to cast all of our cares on Christ because He cares about us (1 Peter 5:7). Many of us have done this, and we didn’t experience an immediate release, so we gave up. However, we are to continually call out to God and seek His peace when we are struggling with bitterness.

The root of bitterness can be plucked out as we continue to call upon God and seek His healing. Through the truths of His word, we find our resolution in God’s plan and purpose for our lives. As His vision permeates our hearts, we turn away from looking at others and squarely focus on Him. If we wait too long to deal with the bitter roots, the fruit of it will cascade to every part of our lives and drive other people away from us.

Prayer

Dear Lord, I confess that I’ve entertained many bitter thoughts toward others because of my situation. Yet I want to be free, so I take everything to You in prayer for healing and restoration. In Jesus’ name, amen.

In His Service,

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